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UPDATED: Searches Under Way For Missing Hikers In Rocky Mountain, Kings Canyon National Parks

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Published Date

July 28, 2014

Editor's note: This updates with the missing hiker in Rocky Mountain National Park found in good condition.

A hiker who got lost in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park was found Monday and led to safety, while a search continued in Kings Canyon National Park in California for a 13-year-old.

At Rocky Mountain in Colorado, officials said Jay Yambert, 56, of Champaign, Illinois, had gotten lost while returning from Longs Peak on Sunday.  At 4:30 p.m. Sunday he was in touch with family and indicated that he would be late getting back to the trailhead. They contacted the park Monday morning when they had not heard from him.

At 8:45 a.m. Monday members of the park’s Search and Rescue team departed the trailhead and began to retrace what was assumed to be Yambert’s intended route. Yambert contacted family at 11:45 a.m. Monday and indicated that he was uninjured, but due to severe weather and nightfall he spent an unexpected night on Longs Peak, park officials said.

There was heavy fog Monday morning and the man became lost, and might have wound up on Mount Meeker, the release added.

Aerial searchers located Yambert below Peacock Pool in the Roaring Fork drainage at roughly 4 p.m., according to a park release. Rangers nearby reached him on foot 15 minutes later. They provided Yambert food and water. The man declined a helicopter ride out of the backcountry and medical evaluation. He indicated he wanted to hike out on his own. Rangers led him back to the trail and gave him directions to the trailhead, the release said.

In Kings Canyon National Park in California, meanwhile, officials said a 13-year-old was missing after becoming separated from is party while hiking from Arrow Peak to Bench Lake. Park officials did not release when the boy was reported missing or what search efforts were under way.

 

 

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